Courthouse L. trout opener

[Lee Borgersen]

    Courthouse Lake trout fishing opener

Courthouse Lake, at just 10 acres, becomes one of the most popular lakes in Minnesota for one day per year. The DNR stocks it with thousands of trout, drawing hundreds of anglers opening morning.

Hundreds fill Courthouse Lake for the 2015 trout fishing opener. Points of Pride: Touting the trout.

Hundreds of anglers hit the ice on Courthouse Lake in downtown Chaska last Saturday morning for the Minnesota trout opener.

The weather cooperated, with moderate temperatures and no snowfall (unlike last year’s opener).

Many fisherman were getting close to their limit of five trout by 8:30 a.m.

One angler, Bob Zacharias, came all the way down from West Fargo, N.D., to try his luck. He’s been fishing the lake since 1976.

On Saturday, Zacharias had caught two rainbow trout in the first two hours. His secret? He uses a small ball of rainbow-colored “PowerBait” scented with Watkins Pure Anise Extract. It’s a method he picked up from old-time fisherman, Zacharias said.

Why trout? “They’re fighters, and they taste good with wild rice,” Zacharias said.

Another group, Tim Kasper and sons Jacob and Devon, of Shakopee, left the lake Saturday morning with three fish. “We get to visit with a lot of nice people out here. We’re all out here for one good reason, Tim Kasper said. “Just kind of catching fish, hanging out and having a good time.”

They were on there way home to prepare the trout. “We’re having a little breakfast this morning,” Tim said. “Add a little lemon pepper and butter and we’re good to go.”


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